Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Freak Whirlwind (Part 3)

Salaam.

Monday, June 14
After a late night but somehow making it into work, Char and I GChatted through the entire workday.  We discussed the tentative group movie outing.  He said I'd have to hold his attention, since he's easily distracted.  I said if I'm the only girl there, then shouldn't he already be distracted?  He told me I was flattering myself.  I told him, "I'm patient.  I can wait til you realize you'll flatter me, too."  Witty, right?  As it neared the late afternoon, I mentioned I was meeting someone in a cafe in Davis, fully knowing he worked a few minutes' walk away.  I began hinting that I had plans but they could be broken.  After beating around the bush, he invited me over, as I invited myself over, to his lab.

I was so nervous when I arrived!  I parallel park pretty well, but that afternoon it took me more than three tries, and there weren't even any other cars around!  After meeting his pigeons and helping him through a lab clean up routine (which, he later realized he did on the wrong day!), we made our way to Davis.  We walked around for while, deciding against sushi but struggling to find something to do, and finally ended up at sushi.  We flirted and laughed and flirted some more.  He made a joke about the octupus we were having that makes me laugh to this day.  He was determined to get the check ("A man should always pay") and wouldn't let me have it at all, but then he couldn't cover the tip with the cash he brought!  How awkward!  d:

As we walked out of the restaurant, he said he'd have to run to his destination to make it there on time.  I countered with, "But you're going to walk me to the cafe, right?"  And Char said, "Of course!  I have all the time in the world!"  What a line!! ( :  We parted in front of the cafe, standing awkwardly, saying goodbye awkwardly, waving awkwardly, and shuffling away awkwardly.  It was painful.

I sat down and said to my friend just as he texted his: "I think I just accidentally went on a date."

Later that night, as we cautiously reviewed our time together, Char told me something he has never stopped meaning.  "I just hoped you felt safe with me."

xoxo

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Happy Mother's Day!

Salaam.

Okay, so I'm a day-and-a-bit late in posting.  But my (excellent) excuse is that I was an amazing daughter yesterday.  Okay, that's a little bit of stretching.  I would love to say I got up early to go to the grocery story to get the things I planned the previous night to make for Mother's Day, but in fact I just stayed up all night and realized I had done nothing.  So I got off my lazy behind, ran to the store to get a few missing items from my kitchen and this is what I came up with.

Brunch was delicious made-from-scratch buttermilk pancakes with fresh fruit and strawberry slices shaped into hearts. I know they kind of look like hearts already, but each one required delicate trimming.  Also, there was Aunt Jemima's syrup...YUM!  (Recipe #13)

This is dinner; my first (and probably only) attempt at this salmon en croute recipe.  It is made with a dill and asparagus spread.  The store-bought crust came out flaky and delicious and overall, it was good.  Just too much dill for my taste. (Recipe)

And the evening ended with Redbox Adventures of TinTin and a cute card.  I got lucky with that movie.  My mum used to love the comics growing up, and really wanted to see it when it was in theaters.  I only happened to notice it while I was walking out of Market Basket.  OH BUT WAIT.  THERE'S MORE.  Dessert was VANILLA MOCHI YUMMM.  Mum slept all day, when she wasn't eating or at the mall.  All in all, I think it was a good day for her.  ( :

xoxo

Friday, May 11, 2012

Nail Polish Bonanza

Salaam.

Pinterest has opened my eyes to something I never realized existed - nail polish blogs.  THERE ARE SO MANY!!!  (Check out the blogs I follow for a couple of my favorites.)

I have loved nail polish since I was in elementary school.  I wasn't that traditionally "girly," but my mum had a few, all reds, and I used to have so much fun with them.  These days I practically avoid reds like the plague!  But my love for polish has only grown over the years, as I have.  My collection is small, but slowly growing.  Last week I bought nine new polishes.  Nine!  I try to be practical by choosing only colors I absolutely love, or something daring to see if it'll look good against my skin, or something I'm sure I'll wear.  I swear I do.  But sometimes I just love them all!!  ( :

Since discovering these blogs, I've seen some really cool colors, patterns, designs, and best of all tutorials!  I thought I'd share some of my nail polish adventures, amidst the rest of the posts (I swear I'll go back to the Freak Whirlwind story one day soon!).  I might try some here and there, but mostly I just want to share something I love.

This is "balloons."  It started as a random polka dot design I saw online, and then just became.  The base is is Essie Topless & Barefoot.  The dots are Essie Plumberry (pink), Revlon Top Speed Electric (yellow), OPI Who The Shrek Are You? (green), OPI Dating A Royal (blue), and Essie Bahama Mama (purple).

This is my version of blue ombre (I learned that it's pronounced ohm-bray or ahm-bray!).  I love this style, and honestly I had so much just picking the colors.  From the thumb: Loreal After Hours, OPI Dating A Royal, Revlon Surf, Essie Turquoise & Caicos, and OPI Peace, Baby.  I want to try it in pinks and greys.

This is a fun french manicure twist.  It started as a shredded funky french (Chloe's Nails), but I got frustrated, so I used Essie In Stitches to make extra girly french tips.

I love the contrast ring finger look.  This is Revlon Surf and Revlon Posh as the contrast.  I love these colors.  I believe this it with three coats each.

I call this Pop of Color.  Essie Steel-ing The Scene and Essie Action as the contrast.  It's three coats each.  Hindsight being what it is, I realize I should have used a base under the orange; you can see the edge of the nail bed.  Sidenote:  I use Revlon Extra Life No Chip Top Coat.  I know people swear by Seche Vite, but I rather like this one.

xoxo

Sunday, May 6, 2012

The Start of Spring

Salaam.

Spring is the start, innit?  Flowers blossom.  Trees bloom.  The whispers of new beginnings around me have made me decide to rekindle some of my old flames.  My stage?  Pinterest!  As usual, I'm late to the party.  But I'm glad I came.  It started out with a Pinboard of fitness-related motivational quotes, suggested by Climbing.  I'm doing a terrible job with my cardio (although I've definitely gained muscle)!!  Anyway.  After finding incredible inspiration from Pinterest, I'm bringing back my creative side.  That's right, folks!  DIY PROJECTS YAY!!

I've made a couple of jewelry items so far, but have so many pins and bookmarks saved for future to-dos.  I do have to say, though, that my favorite item so far is my new jewelry board!  It's made to match my navy-blue-and-spiced-butternut-colored room (like the first board I made).  I used fabric store ribbon, simple brass hooks from Lowes and a framed corkboard from Michael's.  I absolutely LOVE that I can hang all my long, hijab-friendly necklaces on there, and not only do they stay untangled, it almost looks like art!  There are extra hooks for bracelets (most of which are also handmade), and forthcoming are hooks for earrings.  I haven't figured out whether I need something for rings a shown on other boards, but it's a great start, no?  Oh and that top right corner is being saved for a wire monogram!

Keep reading; there's more after the pics!

Call me dorky, but I lovelovelovelove it when things match!

Newly made ring and dangle-y earrings.

My job search as Alhamdulillah ended for now.  I've accepted a 6-month contract position at the amazing Millipore!  Hooray!!  I start Monday.  Let me tell you one thing?  They didn't even ask for references.  Suck on that, BMF.  I saw something online that explains how I feel about all that now.  Moving onto school.  Based off requirements at MCPHS, I'm trying to take Expository Writing, US History, and Intro to Psych over the summer and following semesters.  I just registered for a couple of Information Sessions.  It's going to be a hard road, but I'm incredibly excited.

Which brings us to something that's been on my mind as of late: racism.  It's not really a soap box speech, but here we are nonetheless.  Trayvon Martin's shooter was recently released on bail, even after being charged with 2nd degree murder, and I'm very surprised.  I don't know to much about the evidence in the case, but I don't think that, with the national outcry, such little could be done.  The man is under suspicion of murdering a minor.  You don't just let that guy pay his way out of jail, even if it's to await trial.

I'm not naive.  I'm a Muslim woman in America.  Sure, I live in the Northeast in one of the nation's most liberal and tolerant cities, but I've been the recipient of the occasional odd look or insult mumbled under one's breath.  It's not right, but this stuff happens.  I'm a big girl; I don't let it faze me.  But the thing that's really bugging me is Wellesley College , my alma mater.  I was there last week and I was told that students were unofficially boycotting the bookstore.  Why?  Because the owner, a middle aged Caucasian man, has called a Black student "suspicious."  She was in the store with her hoodie up.  It's literally the same situation, down to the words Trayvon's killer used in Florida.  It is appalling news.  We were taught to pride ourselves on being tolerant and politically correct.  I've shopped at that bookstore.  I honestly can't say that I've felt completely comfortable while there, but nothing overtly sketchy ever happened.  The owner allegedly followed the girl and her friend around the store to keep an eye on them.  That's so ridiculous!  Yes, I know I am only ranting.  I just can't believe that the place I'm so proud to be from had an episode I'm completely disgusted with.  After preaching and preaching about tolerance.

My next installment is going to be soon, I promise.  ( :

xoxo